Folding table



A. L. WARNER EOLDING TABLE rifled Nov. 24. 1926' mN Lu v.

w ll 0 l 1 I Z A 5 J1 fim 5 0 3 4 H Ta. 1/ FL; I 1 0V 1% MA/JW/I 2 l wn. YA

INVENTOR V fllbzLonLLl Varher v ATTORNEY Patented Get. 4-, 1927.

] UNHTED stares PATENT OFFICE,

ALBION L. WARNER, or NEW YORK, N. Y., .assreNen 'ro CHARLES LYoNRUSSELL, or answer, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application. filed November 24, 1926. Serial No; 150,435.

The object of this invention is to provide a table having a folding top,which is adaptable for the refectory type of table new so commonly usedin tea rooms and breakfast nooks. The table when the top is in itsclosed position presents somewhat the appearance of a colonial type offolding top table. l l hen the top is opened out, however, thelongitudinal direction of the two leaves or sections is parallel totheir original position and parallel to the length of the frame ratherthan occupying a position of right angles to the closed position as inthe colonial type.

The accompanying drawing shows one practicable embodiment of myinvention, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view partly in section of the table. 7

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the table shown in a closedposition, and

Fig. 3 is 'a similar view showing the open position.

The base of the table will be of such convenient form as is indicated byits intended use. In the illustration there is shown a leg, 5, at eachend, these being connected to pedestals, 6, and the end pedestals areconnected by a longitudinal member, 7 The legs, 5, at the respectiveends are connected to cross 0 members, 8, which are fastened to thefront and back frame, or valance members, 9-40, of the table top. Thesefront and back frame members are shown extending longitudinally of thetable and connected together at the ends by frame or valance members,11. The upper ends of the legs are also shown connected by alongitudinally disposed brace,

The table top proper constitutes two leaves, 13 and 14, hinged togetherat, 15, which for convenience will be called the back of the table. Thelower member, 13, rests on the valances when either in its opened orclosed position. The end valances, 11, are shown furnished with guidesfor the table top; in the present illustration strips of wood, 16,located near the top and cooperating with rabbeted blocks, 17, securedto the underside of the lower leaf member, 13.

lVhen it is desired to open the table, assuming it to be in the Fig. 2position. the operator draws the folded leaves toward the front untilthe edges carrying the hinges. 15, assume a medial position; the upperleaf section, 14, is then opened out into the Fig.

3 position. It is quite apparent that unless considerable care isexercised in moving the leaves either to the opening or closing positionthat the guide members, 17, will cramp on the guides, 16. Or if theseare sufiiciently loose to permit free movement, the leaves willassume anangular, or skewed. position relatively to their desired final position.For the purpose of steadying the leaves in this movement from backto-front and from front to back, and for compelling the parts to move inright lines, I have provided a guide linkage consisting of a pair ofboards, 18 and 19, of substantial length in respect of the length of thetable. These boards are shown hinged together at, 2020, and the board.18, hinged at, 21 21, to the lower side of the front frame orvalancemember,

9. The board, 19, is shown hingedly connected to the lower side of theleaf, 13; in the present instance there being a cleat, 22, of suiiicientlength secured to the underside of the leaf, 13, to the underside ofwhich cleat the hinges, 23-23, which are fastened to the other edge ofthe board, 19, are secured. The hinges. of the several pairs are shownlocated at a sufficient distance apart to afford the proper leverage forimparting the desired lateral rigidity to the linkage system.

It is quite obvious that if a sufiicient number of hinges are used andplaced at sufficiently wide distances apart this linkage system will ofitself be sufiicient to guide the leaves in a right line movement fromfront to rear. The guides, 16 and 17, serve more the purpose to take upstrains arising when pressure is exerted longitudinally of the table andalso to hold the leaf, 13, against any tendency to rise, not only whileit is being moved, but also when the table is lifted by the leaves orwhen the leaves are opened out in the full table position and weight isapplied to the free and otherwise unsupported edges.

As a convenient means for holding the table in the full leaf or extendedposition represented in Fig. 3, I have illustrated a thin strip of wood.2 l, pivoted to the underside of the leaf, 13. and of such length thatwhen the leaf, 13. is in its fully opened position, this brace willengage the inner side of the back framing member, 10.

When it is desired to close the table the leaf, 1 1, will be foldedforward over the leaf, 13, which will expose the brace, 24, so that thismay be turned upon its pivot shown in the form of a screw, 25, andturned out of the way, thereupon the leaf, 13, will be moved to its fullbackward position, this motion being guided and permitted by thesteadying links, 18' and 19. lVhen it is again desired to open the tablethe folded leaves will be shifted forward and the brace, 24:, broughtinto a convenient position for the hand of the operator by means of achain, 26, connected to the end of the brace and to the frame of thetable.

Although but one embodiment of the invention is shown in theillustration, it will be apparent that various changes may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

,Having described my invention I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. In a folding table, the combination with a frame, of a pair of leaveshinged together and supported thereon and a pair of rigid links pivotedtogether and to one of the leaves and frame for preventing skewing ofthe leaf.

2. A table comprising abase having a frame or valance, a top restingupon the upper edge of the frame and adapted to move transverselythereof, and a leaf pivoted to the edge of the top and adapted to openand close upon the said top, the end members of the frame being providedWith guides and the lower side of the table top being provided withmating guides, and a pair of rigid links pivoted together and to theunderside of the table top and to the frame or valance for preventingskewing of the table top in its transverse movement.

3. A table comprising a base having a frame or valance, a top restingupon the upper edge of the frame and adapted to move transverselythereof, and a leaf pivoted to the edge of the top and adapted to openand close upon the said top, the end members of the frame being providedwith guides and the lower side of the table top being provided withmating guides, and a pair of boards extending longitudinally of thetable, one of said boards being pivoted to the underside of the top andthe other board to the frame or valance, the other edges of said boardsbeing pivoted together for preventing skewing of the top when shiftedtransversely of the table.

Signed at New York, N. Y. this 18th day of November, 1926.

ALBION L. WARNER.

